Robert Mueller arrives at his office in Washington, Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

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1 month ago

'End of My Presidency': Trump's 2017 Mueller Reaction

Newser — John Johnson

As the sifting into the Mueller report begins, one snippet is gaining early attention. It goes back to the day then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions informed President Trump that Robert Mueller had been appointed on May 17, 2017, reports the Daily Beast.

Trump's reaction, as quoted in the Mueller report: "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m f---ed." Trump had been been in a meeting with Sessions, former White House Counsel Don McGahn, and Sessions chief of staff Jody Hunt about finding a replacement for FBI chief James Comey, according to the Mueller report.

Sessions stepped out of the room to take a call from deputy AG Rod Rosenstein, then returned to the room to inform Trump of the Mueller news.

Trump "slumped back in his chair" and uttered the response noted earlier, according to notes taken by Hunt. Trump then lit into Sessions for allowing it to happen, per NBC News.

"Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels, it ruins your presidency," Trump is quoted as saying. "It takes years and years, and I won't be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that ever happened to me." These last lines are key, per an analysis at the conservative RedState site.

Trump wasn't admitting guilt when he referred to the "end of my presidency"—he was worried the inquiry would be a giant time-suck. See the excerpt from the Mueller report here.